Miniaturized telescopic marking instrument



Sept. 30, 1969 J, AVERSA MINIATURIZED TELESCOPIC MARKING INSTRUMENTFiled Nov. 6, 1967 United States Patent 3,469,927 MINIATURIZEDTELESCOPIC MARKING INSTRUMENT Joseph Aversa, Scarsdale, N.Y. (270Lafayette St., New York, N.Y. 10012) Filed Nov. 6, 1967, Ser. No.680,803 Int. Cl. B43k 23/00; H01q 1/10; E21d 15/14 U.S. Cl. 401-95 3Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A miniaturized telescopic markinginstrument in which smooth frictional movement between adjacenttelescoping segments is provided by a one piece split sleeve ofsimplified construction.

Background of the invention Presently known miniaturized markinginstruments consist of a series of short tubular segments telescopicallyfitted together to form a body portion and a marking tip which may be apen or pencil brush or belt body. The body portion can be retracted tooccupy a minimum amount of space or extended to provide a comfortablewriting instrument. In both the retracted and extended position it isimportant that the segments remain in their adjusted position and thatthere is no play or movement therebetween. In addition, it is highlydesirable that the sliding motion of the segments be, free, smooth, freefrom chatter yet firm enough to hold the elements in their adjustedposition.

Prior art devices have attempted to control the movement between thetubular segments comprising the body portion of miniaturized markinginstruments by various structures. However, these devices have beeneither expensive to manufacture or complicated, requiring much labor toassemble. Thus in United States Patent No. 3,174,461 issued Mar. 23,1965, the tubular elements are themselves of an inside and outsidediameter such that a smooth telescopic action can be achieved. Such astructure requires close manufacturing tolerances and eventually causeswear on the outer surface of the smaller elements. If the tubularmembers are plated the result of wear would destroy the ornamentalappearance of the instrument.

Still another prior art device, hereinafter more fully described,employs a plurality of shims disposed at one end of the tubular memberand held therein by inwardly extending ears. This construction isdifiicult to assemble and fragile.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide atelescopic marking instrument which is simplified in structure whilemeeting all the requirements of such devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a telescopicmarking instrument which lends itself to automated assembly techniques.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensivetelescopic marking instrument.

Summary of the invention In one preferred form the present inventionconsists of a body portion of short tubular members of decreasingoutside diameters such that they fit together telescopically. A onepiece thin split ring element is slipped over the inner end of each ofthe sliding tubular members and secured thereto by crimping. Theopposite or free end of the tubular member is spun inwardly to preventthe split ring from being pulled out of the overlying tubular member. Amarking tip is carried at the end of the smallest tubular member.

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Description of the drawing In the accompanying drawing, forming a parthereof:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a complete embodiment of aminiaturized telescopic marking instrument in the retracted position,

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 in the extended position,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the marking instrument shown in FIGURE2 somewhat enlarged and partially cut away to show the interiorstructure thereof,

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view somewhat enlarged taken on line 4-4in FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end view of one of the tubular telescopicmembers showing the construction thereof,

FIGURE 6 is a somewhat exploded view of a portion of a prior art device.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawing, andparticularly to FIG- URES 1 and 2, 10 indicates a miniaturizedtelescopic marking instrument such as a pencil, consisting of a bodyportion formed of telescopically interfitted tubular members 11, 12, 13.The tubular members 11, 12, 13 are of a size such that they fit looselyone within the other and do not require a high degree of closemanufacturing tolerances. Each of the tubular members 11, 12, 13 arepreferably made of metal, but may also be made of some suitable plasticmaterial.

The top most tubular member 11 is adapted to receive at one end thereofa small cap 14 which serves to secure a clip member 15 to the pencilbody. The opposite end of the tubular member 11 is inwardly spun asindicated at 21 thereby bringing the inside diameter of the tubularmember 11 at this point closer to the outside diameter of the tubularmember 12 which is slideably fitted therein. The portion of the tubularmember 12 which is carried within the tubular member 11 is provided atits upper end with a split ring member 16 best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.The split ring member 16 is preferably made of brass or similarresilient metal and is of a thickness which will substantiallycompensate for the difference in diameters between the inside of thetubular member 11 and the outside of the tubular member 13.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the split ring 16 is secured to the tubular member12 by means of a punch whereby two ears 17, 18 are struck from the splitring 16 and folded inwardly against the inner surface tubular member 12through openings 19, 20 punched therethrough. In this manner, the splitring member 16 is secured to the tubular member 12 while at the sametime free to expand outwardly from the tubular member 12 and bearagainst the internal surface of the top tubular member 11 against whichit rides. The split ring member 16 is preferably of a length of theorder of A; to /5 of the total length of the tubular member 12 to whichit is attached so that a good bearing surface is provided which willprevent the tubular member 12 from wobbling within the member 11.

As will be observed from FIGURE 3 when the mem ber 12 is pulled outduring the extension of the pencil, the split ring member 16 eventuallyabuts against the inwardly spun portion 21 of the top tubular member 11,thereby preventing the tubular section 12 to which it is attached frombeing pulled out of the pencil body.

The tubular section 12 is similarly spun in at its end opposite thesplit ring as indicated at 21a and for a similar purpose to thatdescribed in conjunction with the first tubular section 11. The thirdtubular section 13 is also provided with a split ring 22 of the sameconstruction as that of the split ring 16 and for the same purpose. The

two split rings 16, 22, serve to provide a smooth and adjustabletelescopic operation between the tubular elements 11, 12, 13, despitethe fact that these elements do not fit over one another with closetolerances.

The split ring members 16 provide a more continuous bearing surface onthe inside of the tubes into which they are received than that of theprior art device shown in FIGURE 6. The prior art device consists of anelongated arcuate member 23 having a normally disposed ear 24 securedthereto. The ear is received within a slot 25 cut near the top of thetubular member 26. A second arcuate member (not shown) is usuallyinserted from the opposite side of the tubular member 26 and the saidtubular member is inserted Within the overlying tubular section whilethe arcuate members 23 are held in a compressed position by the personassembling the device. It will be apparent that if the pencil isextended sharply the cars 24 of the prior art structure can be shearedoff and the entire device will become inoperative. In addition, the riorart device must be assembled by hand at considerble expense while thesplit ring structure of the present device can be applied automaticallyusing normal punch press and feed procedures.

A small pencil element 27 is carried in the free end of the lower mosttubular member 13 and is of a construction well known in the pencil art.

While the above description has been directed toward a telescopicpencil, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a ballpoint pen, crayon, brush, felt body or other marking instrument may besubstituted for the pencil 27 without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as neW anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A miniaturized telescopic marking instrument comprising a pluralityof telescopically loosely interfitting tubular members forming a bodyportion, a split ring of thin resilient material secured in an areabetween the free edges thereof around one end of at least one of thetubular members and disposed between said tubular member and anoverlying tubular member to provide a smooth frictional contacttherebetween, a cap on one end of the outermost tubular member and awriting tip carried by the innermost tubular member at the end of thewriting instrument opposite the cap.

2. A marking instrument according to claim 1 in which each of the ringreceiving tubular members are provided with spaced openings at one endthereof and the split ring has tabs struck therefrom and extendingthrough the said openings to secure the rings to the tubular member,

3. A marking instrument according to claim 2 in which the split ringsare of a length of the order of A; to /s of the total length of thetubular member to which it is secured.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,344,425 3/1944 Snyder 343-9012,941,822 6/1960 Moecker 285298 3,174,461 3/1965 Pornpa 401209 LAWRENCECHARLES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 287--58; 343901

